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A those in the underworld, McAllister was probably the person who hated ood reason Last year, I'd killed his son, Jake, for trying to rob the Pork Pit and then wanting to rape and murder me Plus Jonah used to be Mab's lawyer, so I'd cut off his ood deal of his power and influence as hen I'd taken her out

Rumor had it that McAllister was at loose ends these days, looking for a new cri for o, he'd sicced a sadistic vaed to put the varound instead

Needless to say, Jonah was at the top of my to-kill list now All that was left was for me to decide when and where to take him out - and just how ret was that it wasn't going to be tonight But I wasn't ruiningwith Owen, especially not for the likes of Jonah McAllister

The ma?tre d' led him to a table about fifteen feet away from ours Despite my hatred of him, I had to adure in his impeccable black suit Plus, his thick, perfectly styled coif of silver hair gleahts Nobody in Ashland - male or female - had better hair

McAllister sat down and glanced around, checking out who else was there He tipped his head at Donaldson and Parker, who both politely nodded back at hi sneers Not too long ago, McAllister had tried to have me and the two of them killed at Mab's funeral At least, I was convinced he was the one behind that sneak attack, even if nothing had ever been proven I was ainst McAllister yet Perhaps they didn't realize that he was probably behind it Or perhaps they siht he was beneath their notice these days Either way, the laas still breathing when he shouldn't have been

Finally, he spotted Owen and me He stiffened in his chair, and his mouth puckered doard the faintest bit in displeasure, but the rest of his features didn't move with his lips Despite the fact that he was in his sixties, McAllister's face was simen of Air elemental facials Vanity, thy name was Jonah McAllister

"Well, well, well," I lad we had dinner already, or I would have lost my appetite "

"Ignore hi there I don't want hiive him that satisfaction, and I know you don't either "

"Of course not We both know he's not worth it "

So we focused on our menus and ordered dessert - a classic New York cheesecake with strawberry topping for Owen and a decadent black cherry and chocolate parfait for ht, airy layers of cherries and chocolateevery sweet bite All the while, though, I wondered if I could possibly lure McAllister into one of the restaurant bathroo A pleasant daydrealy with me, but the lawyer's days were numbered - even if he didn't realize it yet

All through dessert, I kept an eye on McAllister, but he see by the way he kept checking his expensive watch, the slick laaiting for someone - and whoever it was looked like they were late Aw, I just hated that for him

I'd just put lass when a series of hushed whispers rippled through the restaurant, as though everyone was trying very hard not to talk about sowho or what the fuss was about

And that's when I saw her

There were plenty of beautiful women in the restaurant, the belles of the underworld, the society pages, and all the social circles in between, all of theowns and jewels they or their husbands' money could buy But this wo - the kind of woman who looks almost too beautiful to be real

She was tall and ith sun-kissed skin and golden hair that rippled halfway down in her back in soft, silky waves A slinky, sequined, sky-blue gown clung to her curves in all the right places, the slits in the top and the botto, lean lines of her legs A silverstone cuff bracelet flashed on her right wrist, son etched into the metal